Bodies…The Exhibition Welcomes New Full Body Specimen – “The Thinker”
Take a look at the first new addition to its collection at Luxor Hotel & Casino since opening its doors more than two years ago, a full-body specimen appropriately named “The Thinker.” The seated figure, installed in the nervous system gallery, gives guests an exciting and educational look into what lies underneath the skin and within the most fascinating organ of the human body – the brain.
The main organ of the central nervous system, the brain maintains all vital body functions and processes thoughts and emotions. Completely exposed, guests can view two prominent features; the meninges which are connective tissue layers that surround the brain and supply it with nutrients and remove its wastes, and gray matter that allows each hemisphere to perform its own series of unique functions. Equally fascinating, the specimen’s protective vertebrae have been removed to expose the spinal cord, the main conduit between the brain and the body, as well as the 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
Did You Know?
• The spinal cord transmits millions of nerve impulses per second at speeds exceeding 270 miles per hour.
• The left hemisphere of the brain controls verbal and analytical thought, whereas the right hemisphere controls non-verbal and intuitive thought.
• Due to rapid evolution, the cerebral hemispheres developed a series of folds that allow them to fit inside the skull. This gives the surface of the brain its wrinkled appearance.
• The adult spinal cord is approximately 19 inches long. In the fetus, it extends all the way to the tailbone.
Tickets to BODIES…The Exhibition are available at the Luxor box office or by visiting www.bodiestickets.com. Ticket prices are $32 for adults, $30 for seniors, $29 for locals with valid identification and $24 for children 4 – 12 years of age. The Exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with last admission at 9 p.m. It is recommended that children 12 and under are accompanied by a teacher or parent as an adult guide. For additional information or to reserve tickets by phone, call 800-557-7428 or 702-262-4400.
